[C320-list] HIN Number Head Scratcher

[Dave Hupe]

 This explanation is straight from the association website references: https://c320.org/page.php/_RM_hull-id-decoder
Mine in fact has a Q in it both scribed on the starboard hull and on the sticker in the starboard v-berth cubby.  So, it seems that a mistake wasn't made, but I still haven't ever found an explanation why it is not a C instead  to designate a 320 model. 
Dave Hupe
1994 C320 (#32)

    On Monday, May 10, 2021, 01:15:03 PM EDT, Dennis Cookson <dennis at cooksons.net> wrote:  
 
 Ken, I have a slightly different breakdown of the HIN specification, according to BoatUS Magazine:

HINs By The Numbers
A typical hull identification number (HIN) consists of 12 letters and numbers, as in ABC12345D404.

Here's what the letters and numbers mean:

ABC: This is the U.S. Coast Guard-assigned manufacturer identification code (MIC). Go to the USCG Manufacturers Indentification page to access the Coast Guard's MIC database.

12345: This is the serial number assigned to the hull by the manufacturer. This may be a combination of letters and numbers. The letters "I," "O," and "Q" are excluded because they could be mistaken for numbers.

D: This is the month of certification, indicating the month in which construction began. "A" represents January and "L" represents December. In our example, "D" means April.

4: This is the year of certification. The number is the last digit of the year in which the boat was built. "4" in this case designates 2004.

04: This indicates the boat's model year.

Dennis Cookson
Catalina #577



> On 10 May 2021, at 15:33, Steven Snyder <mssnydr at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> My understanding is as follows, although not all manufacturers follow the
> standard. I believe Catalina does. This is per an explanation by Don Casey.
> 
> The first 3 characters refer to the manufacturer. The next 5 characters
> are the model designation and the the production number in the series. The
> next 2, A thru L, are the month of certification by the Coast Guard and the
> next character, 0 thru 9, is the year of certification. You have to know
> when production started to be able to guess what decade it is. The last 2
> characters are supposed to represent the year the hull was manufactured.
> Based on the serial numbers, you should be able to guess the decade the
> hull was manufactured.
> 
> Steve Snyder
> Windcatcher, Hull # 1101
> 
> On Mon, May 10, 2021 at 6:38 AM Bill Culbertson <billculb_a2 at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> Ken,
>> David Sparks last logged into c320.org in 2007 so I expect it is a stale
>> entry in Hull Roster and the boat has changed hands one or more times and
>> apparently worked its way north.
>> -bill
>> Bill CulbertsonC320IA Secretary/TreasurerHarmony #859
>>    On Sunday, May 9, 2021, 08:07:44 PM EDT, Ken McCrimmon <
>> kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi
>> Here is a bit of a head scratcher.  I bought my Catalina last fall here in
>> Canada
>> I started looking at the HIN Information on the Catalina 320 Association
>> Roster
>> 
>> My HIN is CTYL0933K203
>> 
>> When looking at the Hull # decoder, the Hull letter for a 320 is C.  Why
>> is mine a L
>> I thought my boat number is 0933.
>> When i look at the Hull Roster, there is a 933 registered to David and
>> Betty Sparks in Florida
>> 
>> What am I getting wrong here
>> 
>> Thanks
>> Ken
>> 
>>